Convertible child resistant closure

ABSTRACT

A convertible child resistant closure for use with a container having a neck portion has an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable. The closure includes an inner cap and an outer cap, wherein the inner cap includes an upper wall and a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap. The outer cap of the closure includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface. The second circumferential side wall has a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap. The inner cap is coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and is axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates a closure that may be applied to a vial or other container in either a child resistant configuration or a non-child resistant configuration. In its child resistant configuration the closure provides an obstacle to children being able to remove the closure from the container, however, in its non-child resistant configuration the closure allows for ready removal of the closure from the container. The present invention also provides a closure and container assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are many varying types of child resistant closure systems disclosed in the art. An example of a particular type of child resistant closure system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,078, which relates to a combination of a container and safety cap. While many child resistant caps effectively provide protection against the danger of small children being able to remove potentially harmful pills from vials or other containers, they also provide a problem for a considerable portion of the adult population that require medication, however, lack the manual dexterity or strength to remove the child resistant cap. This is of a particular concern to the elderly population or people suffering from arthritis and other disabilitating diseases.

[0003] This particular problem has been addressed by the development of closure systems having a child resistant mode and a non-child resistant mode such that, in the non-child resistant mode, the closures are more easily opened by adults. An example of such a closure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,934, (the '934 patent) which is herein incorporated by reference. The '934 patent discloses a container closure that is selectively manipulable between a configuration which resists opening by children and a configuration which may be easily opened without special manipulation of the closure. Specifically, the closure is manipulated into its non-child resistant mode by “pressing down” on the central portion of the top surface of the closure. Although the aforementioned closure effectively provides protection against the danger of small children being able to remove it from vials or other containers, a certain portion of the adult population lack the manual dexterity or strength to “press down” the central portion of the top surface of the closure so to manipulate the closure from its child resistant configuration to its non-child resistant configuration. This manipulation or “pushing down” also represents a problem for people with long fingernails.

[0004] In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a closure that is selectively manipulable between a configuration which resists opening by children and a configuration which may be easily opened without special manipulation of the closure that overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a closure that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the apparatus particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as in the appended drawings.

[0006] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the convertible child resistant closure of the present invention for use with a container having a neck portion has an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable. The closure includes an inner cap and an outer cap, wherein the inner cap includes an upper wall and a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap. The outer cap of the closure includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface. The second circumferential side wall has a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap. The inner cap is coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and is axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention includes a closure system being the combination of the closure of the present invention and a container.

[0008] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify similar elements throughout several views:

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded view, partly in side elevation and partly in cross section, of a child resistant container and closure combination constructed in accordance with the present invention, the inner and outer cap members of the closure being relatively positioned to resist opening of a container by children.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 with the inner and outer cap elements of the closure being relatively positioned to resist opening of a container by children, but positioned as if being opened by an adult.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1 but the inner and outer cap elements of the closure being relatively positioned to permit easy opening by an adult.

[0013]FIG. 4 is bottom perspective view of the inner cap of the closure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0014]FIG. 5 is top perspective view of the inner cap of the closure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0015]FIG. 6 is side view of the inner cap of the closure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0016]FIG. 7 is top view of the inner cap of the closure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0017]FIG. 8 is cross sectional side view of the inner cap of FIG. 7 as viewed along plane A-A.

[0018]FIG. 9 is bottom perspective view of the outer cap of the closure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0019]FIG. 10 is side view of the outer cap of the closure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0020]FIG. 11 is top view of the outer cap of the closure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0021]FIG. 12 is cross sectional side view of the outer cap of FIG. 11 as viewed along plane A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0022] Referring now to the drawings of the present disclosure in which like numbers represent the same structure in the various views, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a convertible child resistant closure system in accordance with the present invention comprising a convertible child resistant closure 10 and a container 40. The closure 10 includes an outer cap 20 and an inner cap 30. The closure 10 is constructed for use with a container 40 having any suitable engaging means, for example, a threaded neck portion 50, and is primarily directed for use with containers which store and dispense pharmaceutical products and the like but may also be used with any container having a suitable engaging means, irrespective of its contents. As will be described in more detail below, the inner cap 30 is coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap 20 such that it is movable between a child resistant configuration as shown in FIG. 1 and a non-child resistant configuration as shown in FIG. 3.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4 the inner cap includes an upper wall 60 that has a circumferential side wall 70 extending therefrom. The side wall 70 has an inner surface 100 which includes an engaging means for rotatably engaging the engaging means of the container. Any suitable engaging means for rotatable engagement may be used. For example the engaging means may be a thread bead for engaging the threaded exterior surface portion 50 of the container 40 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 4, preferably, the engaging means is a single thread bead 120. More preferably, the engaging means is a double thread bead. The side wall 70 of the inner cap 30 also has an outer surface 110 having a child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a non-child resistant portion axially offset from the child resistant portion having an engaging means for fixably engaging a corresponding portion of the outer cap 20. As can best be seen from FIG. 5, the outer surface 110 of the inner cap 30 is preferably provided with a radial shoulder 130 spaced from the upper wall 60 and extending outwardly from the upper part 140 of the outer surface 110 wherein the radial shoulder 130 is saw toothed thus forming the series of angular abutments of the child resistant portion of the inner cap 30. Each saw tooth has a first sloped surface 150 and a second substantially vertical surface 160. As shown in FIG. 7, the sloped first surface 150 and the second substantially vertical surface 160 define an angle θ which is preferably in the range of from about 30° to about 60°, and is more preferably about 45°. Each tooth may abut directly with the next, however, preferably each tooth is spaced apart by surface 170. Any suitable numbers of teeth may be utilized, however, preferably between 20 and 40 teeth are included. Most preferably, the inner cap 30 comprises about twenty four (24) individual teeth. As noted above, the outer surface 110 also has a non-child resistant portion axially offset from the child resistant portion having an engaging means for fixably engaging a corresponding portion of the outer cap 20. Preferably, this non-child resistant portion is provided at or near the bottom of the outer surface 110. Any suitable engaging means for fixably engaging the inner cap 30 to the outer cap 20 may be used. However, preferably, the means requires the user to orientate the inner cap 30 with the outer cap 20 in a particular way before the inner cap 30 can fixably engage the outer cap so to convert the closure of the invention into its non-child resistant mode. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the engaging means may be a series of outwardly projecting abutments 180 which form gaps 190. As will be described in further detail later, the size, shape, and positions of the abutments 180 and gaps 190 are such that they are able to fixably engage with a corresponding engaging means of the outer cap.

[0024] Referring back to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the outer cap 20 has an upper surface 80 from which extends axially a circumferential side wall 90 having an inner surface 200 and an outer surface 210. The outer surface 210 may further comprise a gripping means to facilitate rotation of the closure 10 to aid both putting the closure on the container 40 and subsequent removal. Any suitable gripping means may be utilized. In a preferred embodiment, knerlments 300 are disposed about the outer surface 210 of the outer cap 20. Preferably, the upper surface 80 surrounds a central opening 220 which can be best seen in FIGS. 9, 11 and 12.

[0025] The inner surface 200 is provided with a child resistant region which includes a plurality of angular abutment surfaces which are of size, position and orientation to complement the series of angular abutments extending from the outer surface of the child resistant portion of the side wall 70 of the inner cap 30. As shown in FIG. 9, these angular abutments are preferably in the form of angular teeth 230, each tooth having a first sloped surface 240 and a second substantially vertical surface 250. As shown in FIG. 12, the sloped first surface 240 and the substantially vertical surface 250 define an angle α preferably ranging from about 30° to about 60°, and more preferably about 45°. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9, 11 and 12 has twenty four (24) such sloped first surfaces 240 with the ratio of the teeth of the inner cap to the angular teeth 230 of the outer cap being one to one. However, any other integral ratio may be used, for example, two to one, three to one, or the like.

[0026] The angular abutment surfaces on the outer cap 20 are angled in the same direction as the series of angular abutments extending from the outer surface of the side wall 70 of the inner cap 30. Further, angles θ and α defined by the abutments of the outer cap 20 and the inner cap 30 respectively are preferably close to each other. Thus, when the closure 10 is in its child resistant configuration as shown in FIG. 1, and when the outer cap 20 is rotated in the opening direction, the abutment surfaces of the outer cap 20 will ratchet or ride over the angular abutment surfaces of the inner cap 30, thereby permitting rotation of the outer cap 20 relative to the inner cap 30. As depicted in FIG. 2, this, however, can be overcome by the application of an axial force on the outer cap 20 toward the inner cap 30 in combination with rotation of the outer cap 20 in the opening direction, which prevents the ratcheting of the angular abutment surfaces of the outer cap 20 over the angular abutment surfaces of the inner cap 30, which in turn causes the inner cap 30 to rotate with the outer cap 20 in the opening direction.

[0027] The inner surface 200 of the outer cap 20 also includes an engaging means for fixably engaging a corresponding portion of the inner cap 30. Any suitable engaging means may be used that is complementary to the engaging means of the inner cap 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the engaging means of the outer cap 20 may comprises a series of abutments 260 extending from the inner surface 200 of the outer cap 20. The abutments 260 are complementary to and interfittable with the gaps 190 formed between the projecting abutments 180 of the inner cap. Thus, to convert the closure 10 from its child resistant configuration to its non-child resistant configuration requires the user to rotatably align the abutments 260 of the outer cap 20 with the gaps 190 of the inner cap 30 whilst at the same time applying sufficient axial force on the outer cap 20 toward the inner cap 30 such that the abutments 260 fixably engage or lock into the gaps 190. In fact, one of the main advantages of the closure of the present invention is that the required axial force to convert the closure to its non-child resistant configuration can be obtained by the user placing the upper surface 80 of the outer cap 20 against any sufficiently hard surface, for example a wall or table pushing the closure, and then applying force against the container whilst it is connected to the closure. In the preferred embodiment, the abutments 260 and the gaps 190 only align in one particular orientation, thus making it more difficult for children to convert the closure from its child resistant configuration into its non-child resistant configuration. The inner surface 200 may also include a lip 270 which prevents the inner cap 30 from moving past the child resistant region and out of nesting relation with the outer cap.

[0028] In order to convert the child resistant closure 10 from its non-child resistant configuration as shown in FIG. 3 to its child resistant configuration as shown in FIG. 1, the fixable engaging means of the inner and outer caps must disengage and the inner cap must move from its non-child resistant region to the child resistant region. To do this, an axial force is preferably applied to the inner cap 30 through the opening 220 in the top of the outer cap 20, although this could also be accomplished by reaching upwardly from the bottom of the closure 10, grasping the inner cap 30 and moving it relative to the outer cap 20. As noted above, the lip 270 prevents the inner cap 30 from moving past the child resistant region and out of nesting relation with the outer cap 20.

[0029] In order to utilize a preferred embodiment of the closure when in a child resistant position and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the closure 10 is first placed on the threaded portion 50 of the container 40 by threadedly engaging thread 120 on inner cap 30 with the threaded portion 50. A rotative force turns the outer cap 20 in the closing direction, here shown to be clockwise. The substantially vertical surfaces 160 of the teeth on the inner cap 30 and sloped first surfaces 240 on the outer cap 20 interengage to cause the inner and outer caps to turn together, e.g. to cause the inner cap 30 to remain rotationally stationary relative to the outer cap 20, to close the container. Upon closing the container 40 further rotation of the closure 10 in the closing direction is prevented. Rotation of the closure 10 in the opposite direction will cause the sloped first surfaces 240 of the outer cap 20 to ratchet or ride over the first sloped first surfaces 150 of the teeth of the inner cap 30. That is to say, the mere turning of the outer cap 20 in the opening direction will not rotate inner cap 30 in an opening direction because there is no transmission of torque from the outer to the inner cap as the sloped first surfaces 240 ride over and slide by the sloped first surfaces 150.

[0030] In order to open the closed container 40 with closure 10 in its child resistant configuration, the user must utilize both a rotative and an axial force. It is the axial force that prevents the sloped first surfaces 240 of the outer cap 20 from ratcheting or riding up and over sloped first surfaces 150 of the inner cap 30. Thus, when the outer cap 20 is rotated in an opening direction, here counterclockwise, with the use of both rotational and axial force, the sloped first surfaces 240 of the outer cap 20 are prevented from ratcheting over sloped first surfaces 150 but instead engage one another to transmit torque between sloped first surfaces 240 and sloped first surfaces 150 to thereby rotate the inner cap 30 causing it to disengage from the threaded portion 50 of the container 40. Accordingly, the closure 10 is disengaged from the container 40 and the container is open.

[0031] This is the presently preferred form for effecting the child resistant feature of the present invention. Of course, other means for drivingly connecting the inner and outer cap members relative to one another may be employed without departing from this invention. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,934 (herein incorporated by reference) for suitable alternatives.

[0032] It is to be understood that the convertible closure device provided in accordance with the present invention can be formed of any suitable material such as plastic or metal or a combination of materials and the like and that the invention is not intended to be limited by the material from which the devices are formed.

[0033] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the closure of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the embodiments described above which are presented as examples only but can be modified in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the appended patent claims. 

We claim:
 1. A convertible child resistant closure for use with a container having an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable, the closure comprising: an inner cap and an outer cap, wherein the inner cap comprises: an upper wall; and a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap; and wherein the outer cap comprises: an upper surface; and a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface and having a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap, the inner cap being coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns.
 2. The closure of claim 1, wherein the outer cap further comprises griping means having a plurality of knerlments disposed about an outer surface of the outer cap.
 3. The closure of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the outer cap surrounds a central opening to expose the inner cap.
 4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the central opening is large enough to permit access therethrough to the inner cap.
 5. The closure of claim 1, wherein the angular abutments of the plurality of angular abutment surfaces of the outer cap comprise a first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and second vertical side define a first angle in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
 6. The closure of claim 5, wherein the first angle is about 45 degrees.
 7. The closure of claim 1, wherein the angular abutments of the series of angular abutments of the inner cap comprise first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and a second vertical side define a second angle with the axial in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
 8. The closure of claim 7, wherein the second angle is about 45 degrees.
 9. The closure of claim 5, wherein the angular abutments of the series of angular abutments of the inner cap comprise first sloped side and a second vertical side, wherein the first sloped side and a second vertical side define a second angle with the axial in a range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
 10. The closure of claim 9, wherein the first angle is substantially complementary but not equal to the second angle.
 11. The closure of claim 1, wherein the second inner surface of the outer cap further comprises a lip positioned below the second child resistant region to define a limit of movement for the inner cap.
 12. A convertible child resistant container and closure system comprising: a container having an engaging means and an axis extending therethrough about which the closure is rotatable; and a closure comprising: an inner cap and an outer cap, wherein the inner cap comprises: an upper wall; and a first circumferential side wall extending from the upper wall and having a first inner surface with a first engaging means for rotateable engagement of the engaging means of the container, and a first outer surface having a first child resistant portion comprising a series of angular abutments extending thereabout and a first non-child resistant portion axially offset from the first child resistant portion and including a second engaging means for engaging the outer cap; and wherein the outer cap comprises: an upper surface; and a second circumferential side wall extending axially from the upper surface and having a second inner surface provided with a second child resistant region including a plurality of angular abutment surfaces complementary to the series of angular abutments on the inner cap and a second non-child resistant region axially offset from the second child resistant region and including a third engaging means for engaging the second engaging means of the inner cap, the inner cap being coaxially positioned and nested within the outer cap and axially movable between the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region, wherein the second child resistant region and the second non-child resistant region are positioned such that the inner cap moves from the second child resistant region to the second non-child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the upper surface of the outer cap and the inner cap moves from the second non-child resistant region to the second child resistant region by movement parallel to the second circumferential side wall in the direction of the lower surface of the outer cap, and when in the second child resistant region the plurality of angular abutment surfaces engage the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap to rotate the inner cap in a closing direction and in the absence of an axial force, cam over and past the series of angular abutments upon rotation of the outer cap member in an opening direction to prevent rotation of the inner cap, and when in the second non-child resistant region the third engaging means fixably engages with the second engaging means of the inner cap so that upon rotation of the outer cap in both the opening and closing directions the inner cap turns. 